Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-02


terry; missionaries were arrested and sent tc
prison for preaching to Cherokees; Chero
KEGS were sentenced to death by Georgis
juries, and hung by Georgia, executioncrs
The people of Georgia continued Mr.
Springer, negotiated with the Cherokees
only to repudiate the treaties, and finally
declared them outlaws, would not allow
hem to testify in the courts of that state
hunted them down like wild beasts,
and compelled them to seek q
home in the far west. The gentleman from
Georgia should spend his time in the seri-
Gus contemplation of this record of out
rage and dishonor on the part Of the cti-
zens of his own state, rather than in the
misconstruction of existing laws and treat
les. and instead of defending their palpable
violation by the cattle syndicates and specu-
lators of the present Indian Territory. l
commend to the gentleman from Georgia
the beneHcent provisions of the bill to or
ganize the territory of Oklahoma now
under discussion, which he seems to have
entirely forgotten in his zeal to keep the
cattle syndicates in that territory in viola
ton of the law as construed by the high
est law officer of the government. Mr.
Springer then proceeded to explain to
the house the provisions of the
bill He said: "This bill does not
propose to interfere with any of the land
in the Territory owned by the five civilized
tribes. They are no more included in this
bill than any lands in the state of Georgia
itself are included within its provisions,
and | regret the gentleman from Georgia
should have founded the greater portion Of
his argument on the assumption that this
bill does interfere with the lands of these
five civilized tribes All that portion of
the speech of the gentleman relating to
treaty obligations with the five civilized
tribes has no more to do with the case than
it has with the Indians on the Blackfoot
reservations in Montana. They are by the
very terms Of the bill excluded from every
one of its provisions. What does this bill
provide? 1t provides for opening
up to white settlement that por-
ton of the Indian Territory west OF
the tribes known as the five civilized tribes.
How does it propose to deal with them?
Through commission provided for in the
eighth section, to be appointed by the pres
ident. Ali the rights of the Indians under
existing treaties are to be respected. | de
sire that there may be no misrepresentation
as to what this bill does The first sec
ton defines the boundaries and excludes
expressly the five civilized tribes. The
second provides for the territorial govern
ment, and the third provides that all laws
of the United States not in conflict shall be
applied to this territory That is as fol
lows: Provided, that nothing in this act
shall be construed to Interfere with the
local governments of any of the Indian
tribes which may now be provided for by
the laws and treaties of the United States.
There is also "A provision for opening up
the lands to settlement. A commits
sion is provided for as already
stated to make agreements with Indians
wherever necessary. The tenth section Of
the bill abrogates the leases, the eleventh
section forfeits all land grants made here
tOfOre to railroads outside of the hit of
way, and the twelfth section prohibits sub
sides being granted hereafter by the terri
tory to be occupied Mr. Springer went
on TO discuss the present status and extent
of the public land strip acquired from
Texas in 1850, The Cherokee strip and
the Oklahoma purchase. During this part
of his argument he was frequently inter
rUpted by Mr.. Holman of Indiana and Mr.
Hermann OF Oregon, who were full of eX-
cuSeS for the illegal occupancy of the cat
tie SvndiCates, and who seemed willing to
become their champions on the floor Of the
house. The concern of these gentlemen,
said Mr.. Springer in reply, seems TO be
about the Cherokee strip and the Oklahoma
lands, which ii Is the object of this bill 10
open TO the homeseekcrs of the United
States. Now what is the position of these
lands at this time? The Cherokee strip of
over 5000. 900 acres is held by on illegal
lease executed by the Cherokecs to the
Cherokee Strip Live Stock association for
an annual rental Of 800, 600. This paper
corporation, which has no assets. except
this lease, subjects the lands to about 100
different corporation and individuals for
$500. 900 Here is profit TO paper cor
poration of $400,000 per annum, with
which to corrupt the Indians. demOralize
the Indian Territory in many ways, and to
send a lobby to Washington 10 try and de
feat the Oklahoma bill, so that this enor
mouS profit and this national disgrace shall
be continued indefinitely"
But would it not be best to appoint Il
first and then acquire the ter
ritorv afterward?' asked Mr. Cutchecn of
Michigan. No, said Mr. Springer, III
IS this lease of the Cherokee Strip to the
cattle company-the largest land lease ever
put on record in this country. Governing an
area Of more than 5000. 900 acres. as large
aS the states of Rhode Island and Connec-
ticut. which is the obstacle 10 the passage
of this bill No one knows this better than
the gentleman from Indiana (ALr. Holman.
the gentleman from Georgia (Nir. Barnes,
and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Her
mauu). We can never get an agreement
from these Indians until this lease is
stricken down by act Of congress. The
gentlemen from Georgia defends tue
leases against the opinions OF two
attorney generals Of the United
States. and against the distinct
terms Of three acts Of congress. Il is
strangely insisted. in full view Of all these
laws. treaties and legal opinionsto the con
trary, that the Indians have the right 10
lease these lands to cattle syndicates, and
prohibit the United States from opening
that country to white settlement 1t Is the
alleged sacredneSs of these cattle leases
which is interfering with the organization
of the territory-of Oklahoma. Ii is the al
legged right of cattle kings to occupy Indian
lands as against the right of white settlers
that is preventing the passage Of this bill.
As have said this Cherokee strip cattle
s. Indicate reaps the enormous profit OF
800, 600. with no assets except the naked
lease. Shall We say that this lease Is higher
than the authority of congress, and that we
have no power to abrogate it when ii Is
m Np in eyOreSS violation of an